Doctors 'should give lifestyle advice' to cancer patients

9 February 2013

More than 80 per cent of cancer patients’
close friends and family think that doctors should give their cancer patients
lifestyle advice on eating habits, weight-loss and exercise, according to a new
study in the British Journal of Cancer.

Cancer Research UK scientists at
UCL asked over 1,200 people who knew someone close
with cancer a number of questions to assess their attitudes towards giving cancer
patients lifestyle advice.

There has been concern that such information could be seen as insensitive or
implying blame, particularly at a time when the patient is trying to cope
with the stress of diagnosis or treatment.

The research found that around 90 per cent
of those closest to cancer patients (their friends and relatives) saw lifestyle
advice as ‘beneficial’ and over 80 per cent believed that doctors had a ‘duty’
to provide it. They also found that less than 20 per cent felt such advice was
‘unnecessary’, ‘interfering’, ‘insensitive’, or implied ‘blame’.

The concern has always been that talking to someone diagnosed with cancer about changing their eating or exercise habits could be seen as upsetting and inappropriate... but we’ve found that not only are they receptive to the information, most believe it is their doctor’s duty.

Kate Williams, UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

Lead author Kate Williams (UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care) said: “Our new research suggests that the
friends and family of cancer survivors are much more likely to see advice on
exercise and healthy eating as beneficial, rather than insensitive.

“The concern has always been that
talking to someone diagnosed with cancer about changing their eating or
exercise habits could be seen as upsetting and inappropriate by cancer patients
or their friends and family members. But we’ve found that not only are they
receptive to the information but most believe it is their doctor’s duty to
advise them on ways to lead a healthier lifestyle.”

The study also examined the
attitudes of a smaller number of cancer survivors (222) to being given
lifestyle advice. It found that patients were similarly positive to receiving
lifestyle advice with more than 80 per cent believing it would be ‘beneficial’,
‘helpful’, ‘encouraging’ and ‘the doctor's duty’.

Research shows that cancer patients
are at greater risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis
and second primary cancers, but this risk can be reduced by leading an active
and healthy lifestyle.

Hayley Hardy, 33, from Poole said:
“I think it’s very important for doctors to give cancer patients advice on
leading a healthier lifestyle.

“My husband James was diagnosed
with testicular cancer in 2006, which was such a shock. It was a wake-up call
to both of us to look after ourselves better generally – we realised we had to
be here for the kids who will be turning 10 and 13 this year.

“Since then we’ve both thrown
ourselves into a more outgoing lifestyle – we go to the gym regularly and are
both training for a London to Brighton cycle challenge in July. I run a
Weightwatchers class too, and took part in Race for Life to raise vital research
money to help beat this disease.”

Sara Hiom, director of information
at Cancer Research UK, said: “This study is
encouraging as it suggests that not only patients, but also their friends and
relatives, are open to receiving advice from the doctors about how to lead a
healthier lifestyle.

“We know that along with being a
non-smoker, keeping a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet and keeping
active are all factors that can help all of us reduce our risk of developing
cancer. For cancer patients, clearly doctors are an important part of setting
up a support environment where lifestyle changes can be made.”